Patrick LaForge Appreciation Thread

[Ssseth]

Sail on Patrick and thanks for all you've done for our team and our city over the years! It's a shame you couldn't be part of the OEG for the new arena but I'm sure you will be there as a fan.

A great Edmontonian.

David Staples posted a nice write up on him from back in 2006:
Patrick LaForge did Edmonton proud, creating NHL Winter Classic, helping to save Oilers

Click to read more...

 

[McAsuno]

how's the weather, laforge?

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Honestly, we can't thank him enough for all he did for this team and city. Well done and thank you sir.

 

[Beerfish]

One of the few guys that actually did a really god job for his function with the team.

 

[thadd]

Yeah I do think it's a we bit strange how he's out of the door before half a dozen others.

 

[Ssseth]

One of the few guys that actually did a really god job for his function with the team.

Yeah I do think it's a we bit strange how he's out of the door before half a dozen others.

Agreed. The real shame is he likely was a casualty of Kevin Lowe's mismanagement as President of Hockey Ops. Since Katz is his buddy and didn't want to outright fire him, someone had to take the bullet. Pending the 1PM presser of course...

 

[McThome]

He did a terrific job getting the Oilers off of life support in his time. That being said, I personally felt the Oilers were heading back towards the old 'take it or leave it' type of mentality to the product that was around prior to the EIG.

 

[Replacement*]

Don't like his marketing. Felt he was disingenuous much of the time and with comments like "the weather" that insulted the intelligence of the fanbase.

Also Laforges involvement in, and preening over the Octane Girls to me bordered on creepy.

Comments didn't help either;

"They are not football cheerleaders with pompoms and things like that. They kind of orchestrate when to get up, dance and get excited."

LaForge also said, "I think fans will be intrigued. They will add spice to the evening."

So here we are and the Flames org is calling out sexism on the Red mile and we have old boys club misogyny objectifying females.

I'd rather the org be a little more enlightened and get with the times.

Good thing they're cleaning house here.

 

[Beerfish]

He did a terrific job getting the Oilers off of life support in his time. That being said, I personally felt the Oilers were heading back towards the old 'take it or leave it' type of mentality to the product that was around prior to the EIG.

I can agree with that thought.

 

[Fire Lowe]

He hated Lowe..

and for that alone should be celebrated. A lot went on behind the scenes that has never been reported.

 

[RattsSSV]

Don't like his marketing. Felt he was disingenuous much of the time and with comments like "the weather" that insulted the intelligence of the fanbase.

Also Laforges involvement in, and preening over the Octane Girls to me bordered on creepy.

Comments didn't help either;

"They are not football cheerleaders with pompoms and things like that. They kind of orchestrate when to get up, dance and get excited."

LaForge also said, "I think fans will be intrigued. They will add spice to the evening."

So here we are and the Flames org is calling out sexism on the Red mile and we have old boys club misogyny objectifying females.

I'd rather the org be a little more enlightened and get with the times.

Good thing they're cleaning house here.

Well said. I can never forgive him for the Edge jersey.

 

[Beerfish]

Don't like his marketing. Felt he was disingenuous much of the time and with comments like "the weather" that insulted the intelligence of the fanbase.

Also Laforges involvement in, and preening over the Octane Girls to me bordered on creepy.

Comments didn't help either;

"They are not football cheerleaders with pompoms and things like that. They kind of orchestrate when to get up, dance and get excited."

LaForge also said, "I think fans will be intrigued. They will add spice to the evening."

So here we are and the Flames org is calling out sexism on the Red mile and we have old boys club misogyny objectifying females.

I'd rather the org be a little more enlightened and get with the times.

Good thing they're cleaning house here.

I hardly have ever even noticed the octane girls but those are obviously marketing towards a certain segment.

He helped take a brand that was beaten down and in trouble and increased merchandise, made big changes to the concessions and such, helped the team not only sell out but have a waiting list, was a big help in securing the new arena. Was the idea man in one of the most popular things in the NHL, that being the winter classic. And doing all of this while the team itself was being run into he ground.

I obviously do not agree with some of the things above that he did on a personal level but for doing what he was supposed to he was very successful.

 

[Replacement*]

I hardly have ever even noticed the octane girls but those are obviously marketing towards a certain segment.

He helped take a brand that was beaten down and in trouble and increased merchandise, made big changes to the concessions and such, helped the team not only sell out but have a waiting list, was a big help in securing the new arena. Was the idea man in one of the most popular things in the NHL, that being the winter classic. And doing all of this while the team itself was being run into he ground.

I obviously do not agree with some of the things above that he did on a personal level but for doing what he was supposed to he was very successful.

My concern is Laforge brought beer level lowest common denominator marketing complete with sexism to the fold. imo this guy was like an aging Sammy Hagar without the wig. A guy stuck in the past.

You can market a product many different ways. Laforge chose the easiest ways and pandered in approaches that cheapened the product and even how people view the org. That's unfortunate. I'd prefer marketing and PR management that holds the logo in higher esteem.

 

[PaPaDee]

My concern is Laforge brought beer level lowest common denominator marketing complete with sexism to the fold. imo this guy was like an aging Sammy Hagar without the wig. A guy stuck in the past.

You can market a product many different ways. Laforge chose the easiest ways and pandered in approaches that cheapened the product and even how people view the org. That's unfortunate. I'd prefer marketing and PR management that holds the logo in higher esteem.

Replacement - are you actually saying you agree with a move made by the Oilers organization in getting rid of LaForge?

 

[Horseradish]

I honestly think the beginning of the end for him was during the arena ordeal. He was quite soft-spoken and cautious, at least in public, when Katz and the organization were really trying to bludgeon the city to cough up hundreds of millions.

Anyway, the Esks sure could use a guy with a finger on the community's pulse. I hope there's some mutual tire-kicking to that end. Would love to see LaForge stick around the city sports scene.

 

[Philly85*]

Could care less abouT this disingenuous slime ball.

 

[Beerfish]

My concern is Laforge brought beer level lowest common denominator marketing complete with sexism to the fold. imo this guy was like an aging Sammy Hagar without the wig. A guy stuck in the past.

You can market a product many different ways. Laforge chose the easiest ways and pandered in approaches that cheapened the product and even how people view the org. That's unfortunate. I'd prefer marketing and PR management that holds the logo in higher esteem.

Well he did work for Molsons for a lot of years.

Know what other idea he came up with while with molsons? The beer combo pack. (As in being able to buy a 12 pack of beer that was half light and half regular or whatever.)

 

[Supermassive]

I hardly have ever even noticed the octane girls but those are obviously marketing towards a certain segment.

He helped take a brand that was beaten down and in trouble and increased merchandise, made big changes to the concessions and such, helped the team not only sell out but have a waiting list, was a big help in securing the new arena. Was the idea man in one of the most popular things in the NHL, that being the winter classic. And doing all of this while the team itself was being run into he ground.

I obviously do not agree with some of the things above that he did on a personal level but for doing what he was supposed to he was very successful.

I think the Octane Girls are a success. As are the many things that LaForge improved on here. I often disliked his attitude and tbh his bravo leaned too far toward outright arrogance, but like you said, he got results.

 

[T-Funk]

Always thought he was the most dishonest ******* of them all. Go tell lies elsewhere.

 

[Suxnet]

This guy always rubbed me the wrong way, but it appears he got some results at least.

Lowe on the other hand made a lot of enemies and did jack all.

 

[redgrant]

Ive met the guy hes the biggest tool. Made a speech was talking about Fort Mac how its so dirty and there are old dutch bags all over the ground and awful service in resturants and how he walks on the concourse before games to make sure everything is clean.

Great paying Laforge 1million a year to be a glorified janitor. The fact that a know nothing business man like Kevin Lowe is now doing his role shows how ceremonial it is and he was.

 

[frag2]

how's the weather, laforge?

11.5% precipitation tmw

 

[Del Preston]

Apparently there's some real bad blood between LaForge and Roger Millions:

 

[Hockey Nightmare]

deleted

 

[Tekneek]

I don't know LaForge and have never met the guy. What I have read and been told about him sounds typical of men in similar positions all over the continent. They are power brokers and have all of the arrogance that comes with that. It is seemingly crucial they be that way in order to do what they do. The Oilers are better for having him be that way than they would have been without him. It makes sense that he was not going to stay with the regime change that happened. The difference between LaForge and somebody like Lowe is most obvious in that aspect.